Which rear wheel is the "drive" wheel?

[Millerad1651]

Tried to look it up, but couldn't find an answer. I know the 4Runner is rear wheel drive when 4x4 isn't engaged. Do both rear wheels "drive" equally? I know in my old truck, the rear passenger was the main drive wheel, and the tire wore a little faster when back there. Dumb question, but I really don't know the answer. Thanks.

 

[jspagna1]

Same, passenger rear.

 

[Baja Runner]

The point of a differential is to power the wheel with the least resistance. If your driving in a straight line, both wheels receive the same amount of power. If you're doing a u turn , the outside wheel gets more power.

A locked differential essentially deletes the spider gears and gives both wheels 50/50 at all times.

 

[tbst]

I'm learning on the fly with this new truck. Bear with me. So this weekend when I installed new rear shocks, I lifted one side at a time and had to put it in Neutral in order to turn the wheel on both sides. Doesn't that mean its connected since one can't spin freely? Seems like its connected to the transmission somehow.

This is a truthful answer. You are correct that you had to put in in Neutral. Think about it, if you didn't have to put it in Neutral than when you put the cark in Park, it wouldn't do anything.

However, when you are in Drive, the vehicle powers the wheel of least resistance. For 2wd (rear wheel drive) the drive shaft is only giving power to the rear wheels. And then to the wheel that has the least resistance. NOW, if you had a locker back there it would power both wheels the same, theoretically.

Now lets move to all wheel drive. When you press the button (on 99+ I believe) you are giving power to both the front wheels and the back wheels, however they can move independently of each other. And an equal amount of power it NOT going to the front or the back.

If you press the button to lock the center diff, the power is distributed. However, in this case you have one tire in the front that is able to move faster than the other, the one of least resistance. In the back you have the same scenario as 2wd.

So that is why I said you really only have 2wd, because if you had two wheels off the ground (one front and one back) only two would be turning (in "4wd"). If you had a front locker and a rear locker ALL wheels would be turning. Or if you had a rear locker and two wheels off the ground, same scenario as above, both the back wheels and one of the front wheels would be turning. Or if you had a front diff lock and not a back, same scenario, both the front wheels and one of the back wheels would be turning.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/110630-lsd-2.html#post1009839

 

[Nelsonmd]

This is a automotive basics question. Check this out:

How a differential gear works. [VIDEO]

This is the best explanation of how a diff works that I have every seen.

The answer in short though is as Baja said. Equal power to each (barring certain circumstances). If you have a locker and engage it, then both will have equal power no matter what.

 

[BrianSD_42]

This is a automotive basics question. Check this out:

How a differential gear works. [VIDEO]

This is the best explanation of how a diff works that I have every seen.

The answer in short though is as Baja said. Equal power to each (barring certain circumstances). If you have a locker and engage it, then both will have equal power no matter what.

Awesome video!